What the Bible says about Pillar of Fire
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Genesis 15:10 Genesis 15:10 and 17 show us a small portion of the ancient practice of making serious covenants. Those making the covenant prepared a sacrifice by dividing animals or fowl in two, then both parties passed between the divided carcasses. This symbolized the seriousness of their intentions in that the divided carcasses represented what would happen to them if they did not keep their oath! They placed their lives at risk. The carcasses were then burned, symbolizing their acceptance. The smoking oven and burning torch symbolize God. In many instances in the Bible, God represents Himself through the image of fire (i.e., the burning bush and the pillar of fire). The sacrifice in Genesis 15 is interesting in that only God passes between the divided carcasses because, in reality, this is an oath of only one party, God, to keep His promise. In this specific case, Abraham has agreed to nothing, but God has bound Himself with utmost seriousness to meet the requirements of His promise in full. This promise will be fulfilled only because of God's character and grace. The 14th thus signifies the ratification of the promise by sacrifice, and the 15th, what it accomplishes by providing visible evidence of God's faithfulness (e.g., the Israelites go free). John W. Ritenbaugh Countdown to Pentecost 2001 Related Topics: Animal Sacrifices | Burning Bush | Burnt Offering | Covenant | Covenant , Conditions of | Covenant, Symbolized by Divided Carcasses | God's Faithfulness | Pillar of Fire | Promises to Abraham | Sacrifice | Sacrifices | Sacrifices, Animal | Smoking Oven as Symbol

Leviticus 6:11-13 In Leviticus 9:24, God Himself lit the fire. And because of this, it became holy fire, as though the Hand of God touched it. It was never to be allowed to go out; it had to be fed constantly to keep it from going out. The fire of God was always with them continuously in the pillar of fire above and below. They carried it with them wherever they went. John W. Ritenbaugh Examples of Divine Justice Related Topics: Divine Fire | Divine Justice | Fire from the Lord | Pillar of Fire

Isaiah 4:3-6 One of the purposes to which God puts His clouds is to protect His people. The prophet Isaiah provides a good example. The setting of this place-of-safety prophecy is Jerusalem in the last days. Then whoever is left in Zion and whoever remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord will wash away the filth of Zion's people. He will clean bloodstains from Jerusalem with a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning. The Lord will create a cloud of smoke during the day and a glowing flame of fire during the night over the whole area of Mount Zion and over the assembly. His glory will cover everything. It will be a shelter from the heat during the day as well as a refuge and hiding place from storms and rain. (Isaiah 4:3-6, GOD's WORD Translation) What provides shelter, refuge, and a hiding place is not so much the “cloud of smoke” itself as it is the presence of God inside the cloud. The linkage of God's glory to the cloud evidences His presence in it: The translators of the Contemporary English Version render verse 5, “God's own glory will be like a huge tent that covers everything.” The Good News Translation has it, “God's glory will cover and protect the whole city.” Now, of course, there is no question about it: The phrase “a cloud of smoke during the day and a glowing flame of fire during the night” echoes the cloud and pillar of fire of the Exodus and the prolonged wilderness wanderings. Here is one of Scripture's first references to them: And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. (Exodus 13:21-22) Charles Whitaker Clouds (Part One): A Really Special Cloud Related Topics: Cloud and Pillar of Fire | Cloud Symbolism | Clouds, Significance of | Pillar of Fire | Place of Safety | Shekinah Glory

 

		The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. See what over 155,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Email Address:     A Faithful VersionKing James VersionNew International VersionNew King James Version Leave this field empty
We respect your privacy. Your email address will not be sold, distributed, rented, or in any way given out to a third party. We have nothing to sell. You may easily unsubscribe at any time.